August 25, 2014

Between noon, when lottery sales opened, and midnight, there were $198,612 in sales the first day. ALF’s Pub and Package Liquors in Cheyenne and KIKS Chevron in Evanston tied for top retailer sales at $2,050 each, followed by $1,079 in sales at the Holiday Station in Sheridan where the first lottery ticket was sold.

Total Powerball® sales were $130,578 with Powerball sales being $108,910 and Power Play sales being $21,668. Powerball tickets cost $2 for each play plus $1 for each Power Play chosen. Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 8:59 p.m. Ticket sales close at 8 p.m.

Total Mega Millions® sales were $68,034 with Mega Million sales being $49,979 with Megaplier sales being $18,055. A Mega Millions ticket costs $1 for each play plus $1 for each Megaplier chosen. Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 8:59 p.m. Ticket sales close at 8 p.m.

“We had a very good grand opening day, showing the tremendous support that Wyoming residents have for the lottery,” said Wyoming Lottery CEO, Jon Clontz. “The credit also goes to the dedicated retailers, many of whom held their own launch parties.”

On Sunday, Mary Ogg, a 67-year-old grandmother from Sheridan, made Wyoming history when she bought the first two lottery tickets at the Holiday Station, located on the corner of Brundage and Coffeen in Sheridan. She was chosen randomly from among the more than 27,000 entrants in a giveaway the Lottery created to promote the launch of the lottery. In addition to purchasing the first lottery ticket sold in Wyoming, Ogg also won a 2014 Jeep® Wrangler and free Mega Millions tickets for a year.

When asked what she thought about being the central figure in a historic day for the Wyoming Lottery, Ogg responded, “I really did not believe that this was happening to this old lady.”

At the busy Holiday Station, WyoLotto officials held a ceremonial ribbon cutting attended by the Wyoming Lottery Board, legislators, local elected officials, the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and the general public. After Ogg bought the first ticket, a line of people wrapped around the counter and trailed outside as they waited for their chance to buy first-day tickets. The Lottery also hosted a small community celebration with games, barbecue and live music to mark this historic occasion.

Yolo, the elusive six-foot-tall bright yellow jackpotalope, made its first public appearances this weekend. Yolo gave the Jeep keys to Ogg and entertained the crowd before disappearing.

Below are the sales by county, listed by top sales amount.

Natrona $36,450

Sweetwater $24,855

Laramie $22,028

Uinta $17,378

Campbell $17,693

Fremont $10,667

Sheridan $10,166

Carbon $6,692

Park $6,597

Converse $6,138

Lincoln $5,453

Albany $5,367

Platte $4,212

Sublette $3,893

Teton $3,769

Bighorn $2,793

Hot Springs $2,645

Johnson $2,628

Goshen $2,228

Weston $2,215

Washakie $2,157

Crook $2,038

Niobrara $663

For more information about where Powerball and Mega Millions tickets are sold in Wyoming, visit the WyoLotto website – www.wyolotto.com.